Leicester City vs Chelsea team news: Drogba starts and Cech picked ahead of Courtois as Blues close in on Premier League title

 
Striking start: Drogba starts for Blues
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Richard Parry29 April 2015

Didier Drogba and Petr Cech start for Chelsea as Jose Mourinho's side look to take another step towards winning the Premier League title.

It means that Thibaut Courtois, who picked up a slight knock in Sunday's draw with Arsenal, drops to the bench.

The Belgium international suffered a hip injury at the Emirates last time but, despite receiving treatment, was deemed okay to continue.

Drogba came off the bench against Arsene Wenger's side, but has been handed a starting role this evening with Diego Costa and Loic Remy still sidelined.

Oscar is the Chelsea man to miss out, but the Brazilian has been named on the bench despite being taken to hospital on Sunday following a heavy collision with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina.

Nigel Pearson has kept faith with the same 11 that defeated Burnley at Turf Moor last time out.

TEAMS IN FULL:

Leicester City starting XI: Schmeichel, Wasilewski, Huth, Morgan, Albrighton, King, Cambiasso, Drinkwater, Konchesky, Vardy, Ulloa.

Substitutes: Schwarzer, De Laet, Hammond, James, Mahrez, Wood, Kramarić.

Chelsea starting XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Drogba.

Substitutes: Courtois, Filipe Luis, Zouma, Ake, Mikel, Oscar, Cuadrado.

WHAT THEY SAID

Speaking ahead of tonight's match, Mourinho insisted that he fully expects to face Leicester City in the Premier League again next season.

The Foxes have recorded four league wins on the bounce since their 4-3 defeat to Tottenham at the end of March, and the Chelsea boss has backed Pearson's side to complete the job, and beat the drop, this season.

"I was surprised with their bad position, I was surprised because for me it is a good team, good team, good players," he told reporters.

"I played them very early in the season at Stamford Bridge and I could immediately feel the quality of the team."

"I'm not surprised they are out of the relegation zone and I will be not surprised when they keep [in] the division."

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